Men never do evil so completely and cheerfullyas when they do it from religious conviction.- Blaise Pascal

A friend or co-worker shares a political,religious, economic, or social opinionthat is opposite to yours -does that drive a wedge between your hearts?- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expectedin a cosmic religion for the future:It transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology;it covers both the natural and the spiritual,and it is based on a religious senseaspiring from the experience of all things,natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.- Albert Einstein

I'm not religious at all,but I believe in God very strongly.- Bono

In many ways, it is easier to be a good giver than a good receiver.The giver chooses the gift and the timing.More important, societal and religious traditionstend to elevate the status of giver and lower the status of receiver.When the Bible (Acts 20:32-35) speaks of it beingmore blessed to give than to receive,I believe that a better translation might be"take" rather than "receive," as the contextof that passage is "coveting."Certainly there is nothing blessed about coveting,stealing, begging, or demanding,however the skill of graciously receiving a freely offered giftis another matter entirely.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

You have to be an original individual;you have to find your innermost core on your own,with no guide, no guiding scriptures.It is a dark night, but with the intense fire of inquiryyou are bound to come to the sunrise.Everybody who has burned with intense inquiryhas found the sunrise.Others only believe.Those who believe are not religious,they are simply avoiding the great adventureof religion by believing.- Osho

Fear of death makes us devoid both of valor and religion.For want of valor is want of religious faith.- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

A vow is a purely religious actwhich cannot be taken in a fit of passion.It can be taken only with a mind purifiedand composed and with God as witness.- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

All major religious traditionscarry basically the same message,that is love, compassion and forgiveness.The important thing is they shouldbe part of our daily lives.- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

I claim that human mind or human societyis not divided into watertight compartmentscalled social, political and religious.All act and react upon one another.- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

I hope that no American will waste his franchiseand throw away his voteby voting either for me or against me solelyon account of my religious affiliation. It is not relevant.- John F. Kennedy

The way to silence religious disputes is to take no notice of them.- Thomas Jefferson

People who want to share their religious views with youalmost never want you to share yours with them.- Dave Barry

Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,when he fell into the hands of robbers.They stripped him of his clothes, beat himand went away, leaving him half dead.A priest happened to be going down the same road,and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.So too, a Levite [religious leader],when he came to the place and saw him,passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan [Samaritans and Jews generally dislikedand were suspicious of each other] came where the man was;and when he saw him, he took pity on him.He went to him and bandaged his wounds ... and ...took him to an inn and took care of him. ...Jesus [said] "Go and do likewise."- Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)

You cannot divorce religious belief and public service.I've never detected any conflict betweenGod's will and my political duty.If you violate one, you violate the other.- Jimmy Carter

Recall a recent time when someone was strongly criticalof your opinions (perhaps your political or religious beliefs).Now, put yourself in their shoes - with compassion.Try to understand and appreciate their point-of-view -not to change your own opinions,but to celebrate all our human differences - in peace.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Everyone has an opinion on many subjectsand is ready to share those opinions -labeling them as "truth."Sometimes it is relatively easyto filter out these opinions.Upon hearing an ad for the latestweight-loss powder on late-night TV,our skepticism leaps to our defense.However, if we have heard the same opinion for yearsfrom our parents, friends,government officials, or religious leaders,we are more likely to believe without questioningthan to raise our filter of skepticismand ask the hard questions.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

From the way most people live,one would never guess that humans are beings of free will.Repetition can be a choice, but often it isn't.The athlete or pianist who practices the same routineday after day, year after year, has their eye on a goal.The unending repetition is a conscious choicein the pursuit of a life dream.But what about the sameness of most lives?Observe the morning commute, the after-work drink,the Sunday football game or religious service -how many of those people are consciously following their dream,training their mind, body, and spirit through that daily repetition?And how many are mindlessly slogging through each dayout of habit and boredom?- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I come from Ireland and I've seen the damage of religious warfare.I am a believer. I don't wear the badge on the outsidebut it is on the inside.- Bono

I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intoleranceor admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.- Thomas Jefferson

The highest art is always the most religious,and the greatest artist is always a devout person.- Abraham Lincoln

I have treated many hundreds of patients.Among those in the second half of life -that is to say, over 35 -there has not been one whose problem in the last resortwas not that of finding a religious outlook on life.- Carl Jung

To say that authority, whether secular or religious,supplies no ground for moralityis not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.- Joseph Addison

We need less posturing and more genuine charisma.Charisma was originally a religious term,meaning "of the spirit" or "inspired."It's about letting God's light shine through us.It's about a sparkle in people that money can't buy.It's an invisible energy with visible effects.To let go, to just love, is not to fade into the wallpaper.Quite the contrary, it's when we truly become bright.We're letting our own light shine.- Marianne Williamson

Anyone who knows history, particularlythe history of Europe, will, I think,recognize that the dominationof education or of governmentby any one particular religious faithis never a happy arrangement for the people.- Eleanor Roosevelt

Every generation laughs at the old fashions,but follows religiously the new.- Henry David Thoreau

Seriousness is a sickness; your sense of humormakes you more human, more humble.The sense of humor - according to me -is one of the most essential parts of religiousness.- Osho

As the evening beckons with the promise of tomorrow...may your gratitude rise up and with strength answer, "yes."- Mary Anne Radmacher

You will not be punished for your anger,you will be punished by your anger.- The Buddha

Today is your day to laugh at life,laugh at what's funny - laugh at what's sad,laugh loud - laugh often,laugh at me - laugh at you - laugh at life.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

May your life always be Counterpoint to the Clamor of the World.May you delight in Dancing Lightly With Life.May you soar on eagle wings, high above the madness of the world.May you always sing Melody in the Symphony of Your Life.May you taste, smell, and touch your dreams of a beautiful tomorrow.May your sun always shine, and your sky be forever blue.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

As you awaken,may your dreams greet you by name,and may you answer, "Yes!"- Mary Anne Radmacher

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was,Thank you, that would suffice.- Meister Eckhart

Love one another but make not a bond of love.Let it rather be a moving seabetween the shores of your souls.- Khalil Gibran

The cleansing fire of Spiritconsumes the troubles of this world.Feed your concerns to the fire.Breathe deeply and rejoice.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

You change your life by changing your heart.- Max Lucado

Live with intention.Walk to the edge.Listen hard.Practice wellness.Play with abandon.Laugh.Choose with no regret.Appreciate your friends.Continue to learn.Do what you love.Live as if this is all there is.- Mary Anne Radmacher

You do not need anyone's permission to be your true self.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

There are only two ways to live your life.One is as though nothing is a miracle.The other is as though everything is a miracle.- Albert Einstein

Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.- Babe Ruth

Give me your tired, your poor,your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.- written on the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor

Simply do your best, and you will avoidself-judgment, self-abuse and regret.- don Miguel Ruiz

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointedby the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.So throw off the bowlines.Sail away from the safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails.Explore. Dream. Discover.- widely misattributed to Mark Twain

If you want to make peace with your enemy,you have to work with your enemy.Then he becomes your partner.- Nelson Mandela

Whatever you do, you need courage.Whatever course you decide upon,there is always someone to tell youthat you are wrong.There are always difficulties arisingthat tempt you to believe your critics are right.- Ralph Waldo Emerson